"wonderful singer with a beautiful soul" Sheila Jordan
Rosie Brown's third CD, Miss Brown to You, is a genuine pleasure. Brown's singing is lovely, inventive and distinctive, and the instrumentality of her voice impressive. This is a five-piece jazz group much more than it is a singer with a four-piece backup band. The playing by all hands is crisp and swinging, and Brown, in her singing and arrangements, always manages to intensify, rather than overshadow, the power of each lyric. From the passionate close reading of "My One and Only Love" to the inspired reinvention of "It Never Entered My Mind," and from the understated blues groove of "Trying Times," to the familiar delight of "Night in Tunisia," this is a grandly satisfying recording.
Jerry Karp February, 2004 (writer for Downbeat, San Fransico Chronicle)
Rosie Brown Miss Brown To You
This is Miss Brown's third CD and more than confirms her position as one of the most accomplished of the younger vocalists on the current scene. This is a marvellously accomplished performance throughout, from the delicacy of the ballads, through the playfulness of Jobim's Outra Vez to the out and out exuberance of A Night in Tunisia. Consistently excellent playing too from trumpeter Andrew Colman, pianist Richard Wetherall, bassist Riaan Vosloo and drummer Dave Walsh.
Pete Martin Jazz UK, Issue 53 Sept/Oct 03
Rosie Brown can underscore the power of words in some of the most beautiful songs in the English language. But words only tell part of the story. She can also use her voice as an instrument, creating whoops and whorls in rhythmic unison with trumpeter Andrew Colman, or neatly negotiating the rhythmic bombs dropped by Dave Walsh (his drumming is in constant movement and ranges from overwhelming power to extreme delicacy).
In fact Brown reaches beyond the English speaking world. The Sheffield based singer is a big fan of bossa nova, and made an extended trip to Brazil earlier this year, where she recorded with singer Maria Perera Butcher. The fruits of her first- hand experience can be sampled on a bositerous Outra Vez and a smouldering Triste, two Antonio Carlos Jobim tunes from Miss Brown To You, her third and most accomplished album. It reinforces the view that Brown is a beautiful singer of a rare stamp.
The freshness and zest set her apart. Too strong to be confused with the wilting wallflowers that proliferate in the business, Brown has a winning, sunny exuberance and a great soul. Of course she benefits from the finest small group in the land. Richard Wetherall, the perfect prestidigator, is a deft, professional and frequently inspired pianist.
Manchester City Life, issue 507, October 2003
With her third CD, Rosie Brown demonstrates that she is here to stay. A gifted singer with a wide stylistic range, Rosie is one of many young UK singers who are well worth looking out for. Her repertoire here includes songs by Rodgers and Hart, the title track and 'It Never Entered My Mind', jazz pieces, such as 'A Night In Tunisia', very attractive readings of 'Inside A Silent Tear' and 'The Night We Called It A Day', and there are also a couple of songs by a particular favourite of Rosie's, Antonio Carlos Jobim.
Bruce Crowther ( writer for Jazz Review) 2004.
From the moment I saw the feisty Miss Brown, arms akimbo and facing the world with attitude...I had a feeling I was going to enjoy this music, and indeed I did. The playing and arranging are outstanding, and I particularly like the thoughtful collection of songs, which includes some lesser known standards, like Blossom Dearie's Inside a Silent Tear, which were a delight to hear. Another great but little known tune, and the opener of the set, Rodgers and Hart's Do it the Hard Way, sets the tone for the whole recording. Rosie's voice is contemporary and polished; her tone is cool but passionate. Each of the musicians make strong individual contributions, which are always appropriate to the feeling of the song. In a brief trumpet and scat duet Rosie shows she has plenty of technique and more importantly still, knows how to use it sparingly!A favourite track of mine is the atmospheric and bluesy version of Donny Hathaway's Trying Times The funky bass and drum riff intro make you focus on the urgency of the lyrics: then sparse, angular piano lines and trumpet fills build up into an exciting ensemble passage- still with lots of space to hear each voice. This is another first class arrangement, typical of the album. Two Jobim numbers Outra Vez and Triste add an authentic Brazilian dimension. The latter culminates in a beautifully organic improvisation, which is so hard to achieve in the studio, and satisfyingly captures the live sound of this excellent band.
Go for it Miss Brown!
Andra Sparks, Musician Magazine September 2003
"no nonsense eclectic jazz"
In a vocal jazz genre, dominated by wilting, fey romantics, Miss Brown is forceful in the extreme. She broods on Trying Times, sparkles on A Night in Tunisia,- an impressive display of scat singing- and threatens to derail My One and Only Love with impulsive ardour. Again confounding expectations, the incomparable It Never Entered My Mind is given an African groove as Brown burns with scorn more than tearful regret. A pair of Antonio Carlos Jobim tunes- a boisterous Outra Vez and a smouldering Triste - serve as a souvenir of a recent trip to Brazil before romance finally wins through on a lovely interpretation of the Night We Called It a Day.
Mike Butler Manchester City Life 7-14th May 03
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